Combined bed-reading lamp and clock



- Sept. 19, 1944. E, J. SPRINGER 2,358,422

COMBINED BED-READING LAMP AND CLOCK Filed May 12, 1941 2 Shgets-Sheet 1 Sept. 19, 1944. E. J. SPRINGER COMBINED BED-READING LAMP AND CLOCK Filed May 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v F J SINVENTOR.

U (9119 I 57122 BY j K Patented Sept. 19, 1944 Eugene J. Springer, Philadelphia, Ea.

Application May 12, 1941, Serial No, 393,111

% China.

The present invention relates to a certain new and useful bed-reading lamp and clock.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which is adapted to furnish, illumination for a person in a reclining position and at theosame time to provide, as an integral part thereof, time-indicating means whereby the person can quickly and easily determine the time without having to stretch himself or otherwise to change his .position or to strain his eyes in attempting to read a relatively remote and poorly visible clock.

Another object oi the present invention'is to provide a combination bed-reading lamp and clock which is simple, inexpensive and efllcient and which will furnish illumination tor a person attempting to read in bed has found it inconvenient and indeed difllcult to determine the time. Thus, if a person reading in bed by means of an ordinary bed lamp or a table lamp desires to tell what time it is, it is necessary for him to lift himself up and to turn his body and head in order to look at a clock which is usually upon the table or other piece of furniture in the room. This liiting and turning involves appreciable effort and strain and. in addition, the clock is usually outside of the range of the reading lamp so that its face is poorlyvislble, it it can be seen at all.

While, in the case of a physically able person, such lifting and turning involves discomfort and is generally undesirable, in the case on a person who is an invalid or a patient in a hospital or is otherwise incapable of moving himself such litting and turning would be utterly out of the question.

My present invention solves this problem .by providing 'a simple and inexpensive bed reading lamp and clock by means of which a person reading or otherwise using his eyes/in bed is enabled to an the time quickly and easily withoutany movement of his body whatsoever.

For the purpose oi' illustrating the invention,

.there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred. since the same have been found in practice to give satisi'actoryand reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one embodiment'of the present invention as it an pears in use; the case Ill being shown in a phantom view to reveal the clock face 20 at the under-side of said case.

Figure 2 represents a vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 represents a bottom elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 as it would normally appear to one using it.

Figure 4 represents a perspective view of aceother embodiment of the present invention; parts being broken away better to show the construe tion thereoi.

Figure 5 represents a bottom eievationai view oi the embodiment shown in Figure 4 as it would appear to one using it. v

' Figure 6 represents a vertical cross-sectional view along the line 6-45 of Figure Figure 'l represents a fragmentary bottom eie vational view of one embodiment at the present invention illustrating one method oi illumina in: the face of the clock.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, I may provide a case ll having a lens ll therein. Said lens I! may be or glass or other transparent material. Said lens I! may be of plane glass so as merely to transmit light from the interior to the exterior or the case ill or said lens l2 may be made in the form oi a convex lens to focus the light from the interior of the case It upon a relatively limited field exterior thereto.

Within said case "I, I may provide any suitable source or illumination, as for example an ordinary electric light bulb It which may be inserted into an ordinary electric light socket it, which in turn is supported within said case II in any suitable manner.

An electric light cord I5 is connected to said socket I4 and extends outwardly through an opening it, preferably in the rear of said case I0 and is adapted to be plugged into an electric power line in the usual manner.

A switch I! oi any conventional constructibn is provided upon the exterior of said case ll ior turning said bulb I! on and off.

. tric' motor; as for example the synchronous motor l9 which may be connected to the electric cord l In place of the electric clock shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 it is possible to use a spring-driven clock of conventional construction or an electrically-wound spring-driven clock of convelri tional construction.

Said clock l8 may be disposed within the lower portion of said case Iii, as hereinabove described, with its face directeddownwardly at the bot tom of said case I0. Said face 20 is so positioned that it may be read by a person who is lying in bed by merely raising his eyes and looking upwardly. l 1 I Said face 29 1 provided with numerals 2i and with time-indicating hands 22.

Said face 26 is preferably made of transparent or translucent material and is so positioned that it is illuminated from within by said bulb i8 so that it is readily visible to the person lying in 'aid face 20 may be of frosted glass or colored glass, or plastic or other suitable material with the numerals 2i and the hands 22 of contrasting appearance, so that when said face 20 is illuminated from within, the numerals 2i and the hands 22 will be clearly visible to the person reading in bed.

Instead of having the entire face 26 of translucent or transparent material, it is possible to have the main portion of the face 20 opaque with the numerals 2| transparent or translucent and with means for illuminating the hands 22; as for example, byhaving a generally annular slit 84 formed upon the face of a clock as shown in Figure 7..

Thus, as shown in Figure 7, the face Iii-a may be provided with numerals 2la which are transparent or translucent 'to permit the passage of light therethrough or which may simply be .cut out of the face 2ii-a and an hour hand 22-a and a minute hand 2 2b which may a be opaque.

v A generally annular slit or opening 34 may formed upon the face 20--a radially inward of asaasas' the heat of the bulb. Where this is done. the partition separating the clock from the bulb may be transparent to permit the light from the bulb is to pass through the partition to illuminate the face 20 of the clock I8 or the partition may be opaque and a separate small bulb may be provided within. the compartment containing the I clock 88 to illuminate the face 20 from within.

The bed reading lamp and clock of the present invention may be provided with a ball-andsocket joint to permit universal movement thereof and thereby to make said bed reading lamp and clock readily adjustable.

The bed reading lamp and clock of the press ent invention may be afllxed to any suitable sup-'- port as for example the headboard 30 of a bed 3! in any suitable manner; as for example by means of a o-clamp 82 and a bolt 38 screwthreadedly disposed within said c-clarnp 32 and adapted to be adjusted to grip the head-board 38.

The bed reading lamp and clock of the present invention may also be constructed as an integral part of the head-board oi a bed to provide a heater and more attractive appearance.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 4, .5 and 6. In this embodiwent, I may provide a case 23 which is generally elongated having an elongated lens 25 therein.

A clock 25 which may be a spring-driven clock is provided within the lower part of the case 23 with its face 27 disposed upon the bottom surface of the case 23.

Said face El may be provided with numerals 28 and time-indicating hands 29.

A wind stem 36 may be provided adjacent to said face 21 for winding the clock '26 and f0 setting the hands 29.

A bulb 88 may be disposed within said case 23 preferably extending from side to side thereof. A heat-insulating partition 39 may-be provided separating the bulb 38 from the clock I as shown particularly in- Figure 6.

Projecting downwardly from thebottom of the case 23, I may provide a small bulb 40 for illuminating the face 21 of the clock 26. A shield 6| may be provided to reflect the light from the the numerals ii-a. Said slit 34 may be transparent or opaque or may simply be an opening cut out of the face 20-41. If said slit 34 is an opening, small bridging portions 44 may be provided to connect the radially outer and inner portions of the face 20-a.

Said slit 34 is soplaced that the outer tip of the hour hand 22--a coincides therewith while the minute hand- 22-b extends radially outwardly beyond said slit 34.

Thus,- a person looking at the clock in a generally dark room is enables to'tell the time at a glance since the numerals 2la will be illuminated from within the clock and since the positions of the hour and minute hands 22-a "Instead of havingthe clock IS in the samecompartment with the bulb i3, it is possible to have said clock l8 in a separate compartment so that the clock will be further protected from bulb 49 on to the face 2! of the clock 26 and to prevent the light from the bulb 40 from shining down into the eyes of the reader. I

The bulbs 38 and 40 may be connected to s suitable electric cord whereby they may be plugged into any suitable electric outlet. A switch 43 may be provided for turning said bulbs 38 and 40 on and oil.

Said case 23 may be provided with a ball-andsocket joint and a c-clamp similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Instead of having the reading lamp and clock, of the present invention afllxed to the headboard of a bed it is possible to mount it upon a suitable pedestal so that it Ynay stand upon the floor or upon a table or other suitable surface.

Instead of illuminating the face of the clock, it is possible to coat the time-indicating hands and the numerals with luminous paint to make them visible in the dark.

While the drawings show clocks having a dial face and time-indicating hands, it is possible to use any conventional drum-type clock in which the time-indicatin numerals rotate pasta timereading opening. n i

It is possible to use any appropriate source of illumination as for example an incandescent light or a fluorescent light or to provide nonglare, polarized light by using a polarizing lens.

While, in Figure 6, the partition 39 may be opaque since the face 21 of the clock 26 is illuminated from without by the bulb 40, it is possible, and indeed it may sometimes be preferred, to make said partition transparent or translucent as well as heat-insulating so that the time-indicating face of the clock may be illuminated from within by the bulb 38 (or the bulb I3); in which case, of course, the bulb 40 may be dispensed with.

It is possible to provide the clock in my novel bed reading lamp and clock with an alarm so that it serves the additional function of awakening the sleeper in the morning.

While the drawings show means exterior to the case for setting the hands and winding the clock, it is possible to provide said setting and winding means within the case and to make the case in two or more parts or to provide the case with an opening therein so that access may be had to the interior of the case for winding or setting the clock.

It is also possible to construct my bed reading lamp and clock so that the clock may be removable therefrom as a unit and so that the clock may be used independently of the lamp if so desired.

The present invention maybe embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

The'invention having been hereinabove de-'- scribed, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A reading lamp and clock comprising a case, means for positioning said case above and adjacent to the head of a reader, a source of illlumination within said case, means for directa ing light from said source of illumination upon a book or the like, a clock disposed within said case and presenting a time-indicating face upon the under-side of said case, said time-indicating face being capable of transmitting light there-. through, and means for illuminating said timeindicating face from said source of. illumination.

2. A reading lamp and clock comprising a case, means for positioning said case above and adjacent to the head of a reader, a source of illumination within said case, means for directing light from said source of illumination upon a bookor the like, a clock disposed within said case and presenting a, time-indicating face upon the under-side of said case, said time-indicating face being adapted to transmit light therethrough, and a light-transmitting heat-insulating partition within said case separating said source of illumination from said clock whereby said time-indicating face will be illuminated by said source of illumination.

3. A reading lamp and clocln comprising a case, means for positioning said case above and adjacent to the head of a reader, a source of illumination within said case, means for directing light from said source of illumination upon a book or the like, a clock disposed within said case and presenting a, time-indicating face upon the under-side of said case, said time-indicating face being generally opaque, time-indicating light-transmitting numerals formed upon the outer periphery of said time-indicating face, a generally annular light-transmitting opening formed upon said time-indicating face radially inward of said. time-indicating numerals, an hour hand operatively disposed upon the exterior of said time-indicating-face having its outer endcoinciding with said annular opening, a minute hand operatively disposed upon the exterior of said time-indicating face and projecting radially outwardly beyond said annular opening, and means for illuminating said time-indicating face from the back thereof.

4. A'reading lamp-clock comprising a case, means for positioning said case above and adjacent to the head of areader, a source of iilumination within said case, means for directing light from said source of illumination upon a book or the like, a clock disposed within said case and presenting a time-indicating face upon the under-side of said case, and means for illuminating said time-indicating face from said source of illumination.

EUGENE J. SPRINGER. 

